Main Entry: star·ling

Pronunciation: \ˈstär-liŋ\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stærlinc, from stær starling + -ling, -linc -ling; akin to Old High German stara starling, Latin sturnus

Date: before 12th century

: any of a family (Sturnidae, especially genus Sturnus) of usually dark gregarious oscine birds; especially : a dark brown or in summer glossy greenish-black European bird (S. vulgaris) naturalized nearly worldwide and often considered a pest